Black pepper, and its alkaloid component piperine, have associations with many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects and potential cancer-fighting properties.
People have used pepper in traditional medicine for thousands of years,
However, consuming too much black pepper can lead to gastrointestinal side effects, so people need to be careful not to use too much.
Keep reading to learn more about black pepper, including nutritional information, the health benefits, and the potential risks.
The table below shows the amount of nutrients in a teaspoon of ground black pepper, weighing in at
Currently, there are no dietary guidelines on how much black pepper a person of any sex or age group should consume.
However, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: 2020–2025 notes that adding herbs and spices can help add flavor to a dish when a person is attempting to reduce their dietary intake of added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
There are several potential health benefits of black pepper for the body and brain, and many of them come from the black pepper compound piperine.
High in antioxidants
Piperine, the plant compound in black pepper, has strong antioxidant properties.
The body creates free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells, both naturally and in response to environmental stresses. Excess free radical damage can lead to serious health problems, including inflammatory diseases, heart disease, and certain cancers.
Research has shown that diets high in antioxidants could lessen free radical damage. For example, one
Anti-inflammatory benefits
While there is no extensive human research on the anti-inflammatory benefits of black pepper and piperine, several rodent studies suggest that piperine may help ease inflammation.
For example, during one
Another rodent
Researchers have also found that specific piperine supplements
Antibacterial properties
A handful of reviews and studies point to piperine’s antibacterial potential.
For example, after a small review of studies involving black pepper’s antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, researchers concluded the spice could be a powerful ingredient for future therapies against both infectious diseases and foodborne pathogens.
Another larger scale review examined lab and human studies involving the many pharmacological properties of piperine, including antibacterial properties.
Similarly, one test tube
Cancer-fighting properties
Although there have not been any human studies to date, several laboratory studies suggest the piperine in black pepper may have cancer-fighting properties.
For example, one comprehensive review of spices and cancer treatments notes that studies found piperine suppressed cancer cell replication in breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
Similarly, the substance showed promise as a therapeutic agent in treating osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. However, more scientists need to conduct more studies to investigate this effect fully.
Increasing “good cholesterol”
Researchers conducted a study of piglets randomly assigned a diet supplemented with or without black pepper and noted changes during their growing and fattening periods.
They found the piglets that consumed a diet supplemented with black pepper experienced a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein — which people call the “good cholesterol” — compared to other piglets.
The researchers believe these results might warrant further studies to explore the potential beneficial effects on lipid metabolism in humans.
Helping blood sugar control
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However, because the supplement contained multiple food ingredients, it is not clear if piperine alone would have produced the same results.
Nutrient absorption and gut health
Boosting brain function
Several animal studies have shown piperine may improve brain function, particularly for symptoms associated with degenerative brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
For example, researchers have found that piperine
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There is not much scientific evidence to suggest black pepper causes any major health risks and side effects.
While consuming too much black pepper may cause digestive distress, this is true of most herbs and spices. And eating large quantities of black pepper may cause burning sensations in the mouth and throat.
However, some research does suggest that black pepper, or more specifically, piperine, can potentially lead to adverse effects in certain situations.
For example, studies involving
Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare provider about possible drug interactions before increasing black pepper intake or taking piperine supplements.